Banjo



NOV. 8, 1932. D, DAY 1,887,291

BANJO Filed May 2Q. 1931 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAVID L. DAY, OF GROTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T BACON BANJO COMPANY, INC., OF GBOTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT BANJO Application filed. May 20, 1931.

This invention has for its object the provision of a free support for a banjo head whereby, other things being equal, a larger sound chamber will be produced and a freer Vibration of the head will be. permitted, re-

sulting in a clearer and more lasting tone. The invention also has for its object the provision of a support which will reduce the frictional contact with the banjo head and relieve the strain upon the head without any loss of efficiency. The invention is illus trated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly defined in the appended claim.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a banjo having the present invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Figs. 8 and 4 are detail sections showing variations in the banjo head support.

The banjo comprises a rim 1, resonator 2, a finger board 3, and a head 1. The resonator 2 is spaced from the under or lower edge of the rim 1 and is connected therewith by a sheet metal ring 5 having openings 6 therethrough to permit the escape of the sound waves. The rim 1 is shown as of wood but may be of metal and upon the exterior of the rim are mounted lugs or brackets 7 through which are fitted the clamping bolts 8 in the usual manner, the upper ends of the bolts being formed into hooks adapted to engage over the upper edge of a clamping ring whereby the vellum head is held stretched over the rim. According to the present invention, a ring 10 of sheet metal is provided and may be integral with a metal rim but is shown as fitted about and held to the wooden rim 1 and may be secured thereto by screws or other fasteners, being preferably fitted in a shallow annular recess formed in the upper portion of the rim, as clearly shown in Fig.

2. The ring 10 is formed by spinning and is an integral structure, the upper portion of the same being turned inwardly over and be yond the upper edge of the rim and terminating in a tubular portion 11, the web of the support between the straight vertical Serial No. 538,805.

wall of the ring and the tubular terminal edge being curved slightly downward, as shown at 12, for a purpose w pear. the bead or tubular t hich will presently ap- The head e of the banjo is fitted over erminal edge 11 and has its edge portion doubled upon itself or about a bracing wire or ring, as shown in Fig. 2 at 13, whereby it may be engaged by the usual edge. of the ring 9 so that when the nuts 14:

on the lower ends of turned home against the clamping bolts 8 are the respective brackets or lugs 7 the head will be stretched and held firmly over the rim and ring of the banjo in the desired manner. noted that the head It is to be particularly is out of contact with the supporting ring over the concave portion 12 of the ring, and thereby the strain upon the head is reduced inasmuch as there is less friction and the head may be more easily tightened than if the two surfaces were in extended contact.

This curved formation of the support also strengthens the spun top, and it will be particularly noted that there is no direct support under the inside edge portion of the spun the spun ring is free ring and, consequently, to vibrate and Wlll perpresent construction In Fig. 2 of the dr awiug I have illustrated the supporting ring as having its tubular terminal hollow and unobstructed throughout its extent, but, if de 15 may be employed, tubular terminal being spun around the in the formation of sired, a reinforcing rod as shown in Fig. 3, the rod the support. It is not necessary that the support have its headengaging edge formed into a complete tube, but its edge may be simply turned downwardly, as shown at under side of the 16 in Fig. 4, leaving the head-engaglng portion open. In all the forms, however, the curved portion 12 is present, and the surface which engages or bears directly against the head is convex, as shown a t 17, whereby the area of contact with the head is minimized and the head may be stretched to the proper degree with minimum strain, and, in all forms of the device, the portion of the support which is in engagement with the head is free of the rim and without any direct supporting element beneath it, so that it may vibrate freely when the instrument is belng played.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

In a banjo, the combinationwith a rim, a head, and means for stretching the head around the rim, of a head-supporting member consisting of an annular web having its main body encircling the upper portion of the rim and having a transverse concave portion extending inwardly and upwardly over the rim with its upper inner edge rolled downwardly and inwardly to form an annular head-engaging bead carried solely by the concave upwardly extending portion, and a rod snugly housed in said bead.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

DAVID L. DAY. [L. s.] 

